YMLN - Phelps Rock-Solid

Patrick Teale

04/01/2010

YMLN - The final score might not quite show it, but David Phelps was rock-solid for the Trenton Thunder in his final Spring Training start as they tied the Pirates 4-4 and Colin Curtis had the big hit in Scranton's 3-1 victory on the other field.

David Phelps was very impressive in his final Spring Training tuneup, allowing just one infield hit and one walk over five innings. He did give up a run [unearned] when his outfield defense let him down. A routine fly out to right field somehow popped out of Ray Kruml's [0-5, 3 K's] mitt for a three-base error and the runner scored on a sacrifice fly. Austin Krum then had a two-base error in the following error when he too couldn't squeeze the ball into his mitt on a similar play. However, Phelps, who sat 91-92 mph and even introduced a very good looking curveball into his repertoire, then took matters into his own hands and wound up striking out five batters on the afternoon.

Colin Curtis continues to sting the ball in the camp, going 1-4 with a two-run double to centerfield. Two of his outs were a hard grounder to second and a fly out to deep left field. He has certainly showed some power this Spring Training.

Trenton first baseman Kevin Smith always seems to find himself in the offensive mix. He went 2-4 with an RBI double to right-centerfield, plating Kevin Mahoney [1-4, run, 3 K's], and later singled before stealing both second and third base.

Jason Hirsh started the game for Scranton and pitched four shutout innings. He did walk three batters, but he allowed just two hits and struck out four batters. It was a very workmanlike performance.

Like Smith, Damon Sublett showed off his wheels in the Trenton game. He went 1-2 with two walks and two stolen bases, all while batting cleanup for the Thunder. He has been one of the more unsung productive bats this Spring Training.

Scranton's David Winfree had the biggest blast on either field on Thursday, launching a massive solo home run to deep left field in a 1-3 afternoon.

Former Pirates' pitcher John Van Benschoten faced his old mates in the Trenton game and threw two scoreless innings of relief. Sitting mostly 88 mph and topping out at 91 mph, he was showing a good curveball and he struck out a pair of batters while putting away all six batters he faced in order.

Trenton shortstop Luis Nunez went 2-3 with a pair of doubles, one going to left-centerfield and the other to left field. He drew a walk and also scored a run.

The other Nunez - Scranton's Eduardo Nunez - also had a pair of hits. He had an infield single into the shortstop hole in his first at-bat and scored on Curtis' double, and later hit a booming double that slammed about 20 feet high on the centerfield wall-eye.

It was a tale of two innings for Scranton reliever Mark Melancon. He was downright nasty in his first inning of work, striking out a pair of batters, one on an absolutely filthy changeup. Sitting 92-93 mph with his fastball, he made quick work of the Pirates in that inning. In the second inning, however, he was the victim of some fortuitous bounces for the Pirates, giving up two infield singles and one dinker before leaving the bases loaded with two outs. His stuff though was unbelievable.

Like Scranton's Colin Curtis, Austin Romine had just one hit [1-5] but it paid off. He drove home two runs with a hard-hit single, but wound up grounding out three times in the game. His other out though was a deep fly ball to right field. His numbers haven't shown it but he's been hitting the ball hard this camp.

Charleston shortstop Carmen Angelini was scheduled to have an MRI on his ailing hip flexor on Thursday.

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David Phelps was very impressive in his final Spring Training tuneup, allowing just one infield hit and one walk over five innings. He did give up a run [unearned] when his outfield defense let him down. A routine fly out to right field somehow popped out of Ray Kruml's [0-5, 3 K's] mitt for a three-base error and the runner scored on a sacrifice fly. Austin Krum then had a two-base error in the following error when he too couldn't squeeze the ball into his mitt on a similar play. However, Phelps, who sat 91-92 mph and even introduced a very good looking curveball into his repertoire, then took matters into his own hands and wound up striking out five batters on the afternoon.\r\n\r\n

Colin Curtis continues to sting the ball in the camp, going 1-4 with a two-run double to centerfield. Two of his outs were a hard grounder to second and a fly out to deep left field. He has certainly showed some power this Spring Training.\r\n\r\n

Trenton first baseman Kevin Smith always seems to find himself in the offensive mix. He went 2-4 with an RBI double to right-centerfield, plating Kevin Mahoney [1-4, run, 3 K's], and later singled before stealing both second and third base.\r\n\r\n

Jason Hirsh started the game for Scranton and pitched four shutout innings. He did walk three batters, but he allowed just two hits and struck out four batters. It was a very workmanlike performance.\r\n\r\n

Like Smith, Damon Sublett showed off his wheels in the Trenton game. He went 1-2 with two walks and two stolen bases, all while batting cleanup for the Thunder. He has been one of the more unsung productive bats this Spring Training.\r\n\r\n

Scranton's David Winfree had the biggest blast on either field on Thursday, launching a massive solo home run to deep left field in a 1-3 afternoon.\r\n\r\n

Former Pirates' pitcher John Van Benschoten faced his old mates in the Trenton game and threw two scoreless innings of relief. Sitting mostly 88 mph and topping out at 91 mph, he was showing a good curveball and he struck out a pair of batters while putting away all six batters he faced in order.\r\n\r\n

Trenton shortstop Luis Nunez went 2-3 with a pair of doubles, one going to left-centerfield and the other to left field. He drew a walk and also scored a run.\r\n\r\n

The other Nunez - Scranton's Eduardo Nunez - also had a pair of hits. He had an infield single into the shortstop hole in his first at-bat and scored on Curtis' double, and later hit a booming double that slammed about 20 feet high on the centerfield wall-eye.\r\n\r\n

It was a tale of two innings for Scranton reliever Mark Melancon. He was downright nasty in his first inning of work, striking out a pair of batters, one on an absolutely filthy changeup. Sitting 92-93 mph with his fastball, he made quick work of the Pirates in that inning. In the second inning, however, he was the victim of some fortuitous bounces for the Pirates, giving up two infield singles and one dinker before leaving the bases loaded with two outs. His stuff though was unbelievable.\r\n\r\n

Like Scranton's Colin Curtis, Austin Romine had just one hit [1-5] but it paid off. He drove home two runs with a hard-hit single, but wound up grounding out three times in the game. His other out though was a deep fly ball to right field. His numbers haven't shown it but he's been hitting the ball hard this camp.\r\n\r\n

Charleston shortstop Carmen Angelini was scheduled to have an MRI on his ailing hip flexor on Thursday.\r\n\r\n

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